ChristophFFM

The fragrance experienced quite a hype on YouTube. In Germany, it is relatively expensive and hard to come by. The dear and likable colleague Schücha kindly provided me with a sample. Thank you very much again for that :)

Upon spraying, the first impression is very harsh. It stings the nose. Everything smells disharmonious and chemical, like glue. Well, I think, many niche perfumes need a few minutes to unfold properly and reward the nose for the wait. Slowly, a synthetic idea of apple creeps in, but it doesn’t develop and quickly fades away. The glue smell transitions into a piercing rose scent that I really don’t want to like. It’s hardly comparable to a real rose and feels very artificial. Leather joins in, but it comes across rather quietly. The saffron becomes noticeable now, leaning towards a herbal direction and unfortunately complements the glue smell fittingly. The pseudo-rose-heavy overall composition remains artificial, piercing, and lacking harmony in the first hour. It reminds me of a rose-oud combination like Mancera's “Black Prestigium,” only significantly worse.

From the second hour on, the fragrance slowly becomes more harmonious, and the individual notes increasingly intertwine. It partially loses its piercing sharpness. However, it also becomes noticeably weaker and almost skin-close. The overall impression shifts to a faintly scented, glue-rose herbal quality. Leather can only be sensed if one brings their nose very close to the wrist. Overall, this really doesn’t impress me and evokes no pleasant associations. On the contrary: it’s simply annoying. I wonder what I could use this fragrance for. Once it becomes less disturbing in the later stages, it is then downright boring, also because it’s hardly perceivable anymore.

From the third hour on, you are left with an almost warm, slightly balsamic, yet still herbal, slightly piercing, and even musty composition. For me, it is overall extremely disappointing and useless.

I still have 1-2 ml left. If anyone would like it, please feel free to write to me.

I came across Montale's fragrances while searching for a perfume with good longevity. Secondly, I wanted a scent for special occasions that should have a noble aura. I have now found Aoud Musk for the time being.

The Scent
At first, the scent is a bit piercing in the nose, which is why some might be bothered by the "medicinal" smell of Montale's top notes in the Aoud range. I find this less troubling, but it takes a while to unfold. It stabilizes after about half an hour. The listed fragrance notes can mostly be detected at first. Especially the woody-resinous notes, which are likely to represent the oud, and herbs that probably come from saffron and initially remind one a bit of sage or cumin. The fragrance notes intertwine increasingly in the first hour, making it harder to distinguish them individually. However, one is rewarded with a successful, harmonious unity that appears quite noble and smooth. The musk seems to me more like an impression than a prominent fragrance note. Perhaps it has something to do with the wonderful balsamic, masculine warmth that Aoud Musk radiates. Probably the amber also supports this soothing effect, which can also be observed in Montale's "Amber Blue." A hint of sweetness, if at all perceptible, is then subtle and in the background. Thankfully, this "Aoud" completely avoids the Montale rose.

The Dosage (1st Warning)
I must urgently point out that this fragrance stands and falls with the dosage. Although my skin generally has issues with sillage and longevity, I would consider one spray and at most - really at most - two. With more than two sprays, the scent tips over, as the line between penetration and pleasure is extremely narrow here. The good and pleasant sillage then expands by several meters and can become overwhelming in that case.

The Occasions
Compared to other oud fragrances from Montale, such as "Black Aoud" or "Red Aoud," this one seems significantly more pleasant and socially acceptable. One cannot deny the masculine sex appeal of the scent, although it is not necessarily a date fragrance, as it could overwhelm someone interested in a relaxed lightness with a certain seriousness. I, in my late twenties, recently wore it at an orchestra and at a wedding, for which it is wonderfully suitable. On colder days, I could even imagine wearing it in the office in a well-dosed manner, despite the rather strong sillage. For summer, the scent seems too heavy, but it is certainly wearable in the cooler evening hours. For the warm season, one could instead opt for Montale's "Aoud Ever," which has similarities to this one but is dominated by a beautiful, non-chemical lemon that is supported by the oud and woody-resinous notes.

The Longevity (2nd and 3rd Warning)
The longevity is phenomenally typical of Montale. It lasts all day and into the next morning. I would like to issue a second warning regarding application on clothing. It lasts significantly two to four days on that. A third warning seems warranted regarding skin contact. With a close physical greeting, you can "infect" your counterpart with the scent, which some may not always appreciate. The YouTuber "Redolessence" has compared this effect to the multiplication of bacteria, which seems like an appropriate analogy to me.

Overall, a beautifully warm and noble evening scent for men in rather smart clothing and for special occasions.